The India Against Corruption, Odisha on Tuesday alleged that the Odisha Khadi and Village Industries Board (OKVIB) has committed financial irregularities of over Rs58 crore out of the funds provided by the Union and State Governments during the last four years.
Addressing a Press conference here, Malaya Kuamar Tripathy of the forum said the State Government had given Rs8.29 crore to the Khadi Board for promoting honey bee farming during the last four years as stated by MSME Minister Prafulla Samal in the State Assembly. But as per Board Chairman Tejeswar Parida’s statement, Rs 10 lakh has been spent for providing training to 1,200 bee-keepers and providing 2,400 bee-boxes to 480 farmers.
“If figures of the Minister and Parida are correct, then where is Rs8.19 crore now,” wanted to know Tripathy.
Tripathy further alleged that while a bee-box costs about Rs1,000, the Board has shown the cost at Rs30,000 per box. Similarly, Rs8,000 has been mentioned to be spent for providing training to each farmer while Rs500 to Rs700 is spent in reality.
‘Rs58 cr bungled in Khadi Board in 4 yrs’
The State Government has provided Rs39.94 crore and the Union Government has provided 46.28 crore, totaling Rs 86.22 crore, during the last four years. While of this, Rs 26.93 crore has been spent towards salary, Rs35 lakh for purchase of looms and thread, Rs20 lakh for holding exhibitions and Rs10 lakh for holding training to bee-keepers and providing bee-boxes to them, record for the rest amount of Rs58.64 crore is now unavailable, said Tripathy.
He alleged that the Board Chairman and some officers have looted away the money by making false bills in the names of unscrupulous ad agencies and consultancies. He demanded that a Vigilance inquiry be conducted to the alleged irregularities and Chairman Tejeswar Parida be removed soon.
If these demands are not met soon, the forum would intensify its agitation in coming days, threatened Tripathy.
Among others, Priyanath Acharya, Pritilata Nayak and Kahnucharan Behura were present.